Surface

After surviving a second winter of higher commodity prices in good shape — at least on the surface — local distribution companies (LDCs) will need continued regulatory support that gives them the tools to capture costs and maintain credit quality, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) said in a new report.

After surviving a second winter of higher commodity prices in good shape — at least on the surface — local distribution companies (LDCs) will need continued regulatory support that gives them the tools to capture costs and maintain credit quality, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) said in a new report.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Thursday vacated and remanded a decision by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) approving a $1.4 billion rail project to carry coal from the Powder River Basin to power plants in the East and Midwest, saying the board failed to assess the environmental impact of increased coal burning.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Thursday vacated and remanded a decision by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) approving a $1.4 billion rail project to carry coal from the Powder River Basin to power plants in the East and Midwest, saying the board failed to assess the environmental impact of increased coal burning.

London-based BP plc plans to cut about 1,000 jobs from its Lower 48 operations, after announcing last week that its fourth quarter earnings will be below forecasts. Apparently, no more jobs will be eliminated from the extensive Alaska operations, which were cut 20% last year.

London-based BP plc plans to cut about 1,000 jobs from its Lower 48 operations, after announcing last week that its fourth quarter earnings will be below forecasts (see Daily GPI, Jan. 15). Apparently, no more jobs will be eliminated from the extensive Alaska operations, which were cut 20% last year.

On the surface, a straightforward purchase of California’s second merchant underground natural gas storage facility is taking on major policy implications. It could provide a view this week of just how hard-and-fast the split is between pro-market and pro-enforcement regulators at the state regulatory commission.

On the surface, a straightforward purchase of California’s second merchant underground natural gas storage facility is taking on major policy implications. It could provide a view next week of just how hard-and-fast the split is between pro-market and pro-enforcement regulators at the state regulatory commission.

Cash quotes continued to rise Wednesday in both swing deals fortoday and in what little bit of bidweek business remained to bedone. However, doubt was growing about how much longer theunprecedented recent price strength can be maintained after futuresreacted negatively to a storage report for the first time in morethan a month.